The Million-Dollar Heart

Vivienne mulled it over for a second, then said, "Well, it's not exactly like that. My mentor was the kind who'd perk up at the sight of a dollar bill, and now, I'm all about the cash, too. So, I need you to ink a new deal, Vance. You know my Mr. Wolf's unemployed at the moment, and I've got a household to run."

With that, she whipped out a fresh contract and laid it before Vance, the figures in it a whopping fifty percent higher than the previous one.

Without a moment's hesitation, Vance scribbled his signature on the dotted line.

Money was no object when it came to this lifesaving contract.

After closing the contract, Vance's expression regained its composure. "So, is this the reason Jasper called me over today?"

Jasper shook his head. "Of course not. This is a matter my granddaughter brought to you. As for me, I've got another issue to discuss."

Vance straightened up. "What's on your mind?"

"The ancient warrior lineage."

Vance's eyes flickered with disbelief.

Jasper himself hailed from the ancient warrior lineage, and the Perez family held a lofty position within the Vanguard Agency. It was surprising he would broach the topic with Vance, knowing full well that Vance had always wanted to kick the ancient warrior lineage out of the Agency.

"Surprised, huh?" Jasper chuckled. "I know you've got a bone to pick with the ancient warrior lineage, feeling that us old-timers are flexing our family muscles, stifling your special squad's operations, and botching many a mission."

Vance frowned, his gaze drifting over to Percival and Vivienne.

Great, those two were at it again, playing house.

One sipping coffee, the other pouring - living the life of Riley.

Vance had to drag his attention back. "Jasper, just lay your cards on the table."

Percival handed Vance a freshly brewed cup of coffee. "Vance, Jasper here wants a slice

deal with Mr. Percy is to boot the ancient warrior lineage out of the Vanguard Agency. What exactly is the 'pie' you're wanting a

over to his desk, speaking slowly. "I get why you want to push them out. Over time, their influence has grown massive, almost monopolizing power, to the point where even the Perez and Martinez families sometimes have to

motives were not merely vengeful. "You want to restore

watched Jasper quietly, unsure where he was

what happened with Noah, did anything strike

in the Vanguard Agency for nearly sixty years,

the Agency for six decades without anyone catching on? Like those ten children back in the day - he

the others on that

the difference

in the Vanguard Agency was a fool. Without inside help, even with GTO cutting off its own tentacles to let Noah

that even Yorick never suspected

seize power all these years without

It dawned on Vance.

lineages must have been

mole, could it mean that someone

chilling, and Vance could not help

Vance another cup of coffee. "My mentor faked his own death because he was being hunted, and those hunters were from the

first tried to locate the Emerald Monastery, I sensed someone was after me, too.

had not perished when his family was wiped out but had gone

Vance had been investigating discreetly, using his position within the

never have predicted that when he finally tracked down the location of the Emerald Monastery, he would discover that someone was after Finnian's life.

his dismay, by the time he returned, Finnian had succumbed to illness,

on, no